Manufacture of window and plate glass.



No. 7|o,357. Patented sept. 3o, i902. i w. E. HEAL. l y

MANUFGTUFREl 0F WINDOW AND PL-ATE GLASS.

(Application leti im. 85, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shut l.

No. 710,357. Patented sept. 3o, |902.

, w. g. HEAL. MANUFACTURE 0,F WINDOW AND PLATE GLASS.

(Applicgtion filed Jan. 25, 1902.) (No Modal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

fggwwm hUNITED STATES` AIhftTiirIT 'e OFFICE.

IVILLIAM E. I-IEAL, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN H. FORREST, OF MARION, INDIANA.

MANUFACTURE OF WINDOW ANDI PLATE GLASS..v

SPECIFICATION forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 710,357, dated September 30, 1902.

Application tiled January 25, 1902.

and in continuous sheets by a new and improved method of flowing the molten glass from the melting-tank into an adjacent receptacle containing melted material of a greater specific gravity than glass and causing-the molten glass totioat upon and spread into a continuous sheet over the surface of said melted material and then drawing the sheet of glass therefrom and causing it to pass into the leer for annealing and by one continuous operation, as hereinafter more fully.

set forth and described, it being my object by this invention to simplify, facilitate, and cheapen the manufacture of sheet and plate glass and improve its quality.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention and the preferable apparatus adapted to carry out my new and improved process and method of manufacturing.: sheet; window,- and plate glass, and in these drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinall section ofthe apparatus preferred and adapted to be A used in connection with my improved method and process 4of making sheet, win`dow, and plate glass. Fig. :3 is a sectional plan view of said apparatus. the drawing-out rolls and connected parts detached from said apparatus, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same rolls and connected parts.

In the drawings, 5 is a suitable meltingtank inclosing the furnace-chamber 1,-and 8 is a suitable forming-tank inclosi'ng the heatingchamber 2, said tanks being connected by the bridge 10 with an -open channel 11. between the tanks and beneaththe bridge,

through which the air may circulate freelyl under the bridge and between the end walls of the tanks in order to cool and prevent said Fig. 3is a side elevation of end walls and bridge from being melted down bythe intense heatof said furnace and heat-P ing chambers. Said furnace-chamber 1 and said heating-chamber lcommunicate with each other through the open space above the bridge 10, and both chambers have the same roof 3:2, which also extends over and covers the leer or annealing-room 1S.

Gas for melting the glass (3 is admitted through the port.s\7 on each side of the furnace andis similarly admitted by the ports 12 into the heating-chamber 2 for the purpose ol melting the material t) inthe forming-'tank 8 and su perfusingtbe'sheet of glans 16 within the heating-chamber. The heat in the chamber i? is continuous and is supplied from the furnace'andl by the introduction of gas' 'and near the angles 2O are provided to admit gas for su perfusing the edges of the sheet of glass and facilitating its passage from the bridge 1'0 to and beyond said angles, where the-forming-tank and heating-chamber are widened, as shown in the plan view, Fig. 2,- to permit the sheet ol' glass 1G to pass unobstructed bythe side walls of the'forming-tank to the opening 17 at the end of the heatingchamber 2. The melting-tank 5 is filled with molten glass to the level shown in Fig. Land the forming-tank 8 is filled to a.s0me\vhat lower level. with a suitable molten material, preferably of tin or alloys of tin and copper, but may be of other metal or material having a much greater specific gravity and being' vthrough which the batch or material to be made into glass is fed intothe melting-tank 5.

The ue 13 affords an opening, whereby the smoke, spent gases produced, and vapors generated in the furnace and heating-chamber may escape into the chimney 14 and be car'- ried out into the open air.

Situate opposite said opening 17 is a pair of drawing-out rolls l 3 and 4, which are more fully shown by Fig. 3, and which are provided and adapted to receive the sheet of glass 16 from the openingr '17 and deliver it to the carrying-rolls 19, to

be carried thereby th rough theleer or an nealing-oven 18, said leer bengconnected with the heating-chamber 2 and made continuous therewith, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rolls 3 and 4 are mounted on movable bearv ings and provided with the sprocket-wheels 22 and 23 and a chain engaging with said wheels, the pulley 21 being adapted to rotate said wheels at any desired speed regulated byanysuitablespeed-regulatingdevice. The adjustment of the upper roll 3 is eected by -means of the movable bearings 26, as shown in Fig. 4, to each of whichbearings is rigidly lattached on its upper side a nut 27,.engaging with a screw-thread on the shaft 28, which is caused to rotate when desired by turning the hand-wheels 29, and thus actuating-the bevelgears 30 and producing the rotary motion of said shaft. By this ldevice the upper roll 3 may be elevated or lowered, as desired, and

the space between the rolls 3 and 4 regulated to Silit any desired thickness of glass and produce any desired pressure upon the sheets of glass to be passed between said rolls. These rolls are made of iron or other suitable metal or material covered with asbestos cord or rope wound in eyen and smooth layers around the rolls, as thread is usually wound upon a spool, thus providing a smooth and elastic surface adapted to protect the surface of the glass from injury and at the same time sufficiently ,firm to grasp and hold the sheet of glass between the rolls and'feed it into the leer and pass it to the carrying-rolls ofthe annealingoven. At the bottom of the opening 17 and at the end of the heating-chamber 2 is securely placed a mat of asbestos 33 upon the drivin g-gear or other suitable actuating mech` anism.

In the manufacture of glass in a continuous sheet by my improved method the welly known qualities of glass are utilized and api plied. This is done by using in the forming-tank 8 metals, alloys, or other materials possessing qualities adapted to facilitate the formation, treatment, and handling of the sheet of glass to be produced and passed through the heating-chamber 2. The metals, alloys, and materials preferred for such use are tin and alloys of tin and copper; but other metals, alloys, and materials possessing similar qualities may be used. The metals and alloys specified fuse at a. much lower temperature than glass, and theirboiling temperature is very high. The specific gravity of glass being much less than said metals, alloys, and materials, the molten sheet of glass will readily float and spread over the surface of the same in their molten state without danger of agitating or distorting said sheet by any boiling of the subjacent contents of the formingtank 8. Said metals, alloys, and materials are protected by the sheet of glass from oxidation, and between them and the glass there is no affinity or reaction, thus fur# nishing a -level cushion and surface, from which injury to the floating sheet of glass is not liable to occur.

In making sheet, window, and plate glass by my improved method gas is furnished through the ports 7 and the supply regulated by-the usual or any suitable method. The glass is heated, melted,` and purified in the usual way in the melting-tank 5, and all lumps, unmelted particles, and other impurities held back from the working endof the tank in the usual way and nothing but the pure molten glass permitted to occupy the working ond of the melting-tank next to the bridge and flow over the bridge. The batch to be melted is fed into the melting-tank 5 through the openings l5 in such quantities and with such regularity as to maintain the supply of molten'glass contained in the melting-tank at a level highenough to cause a uniform flow of the pure molten glass from the melting-tank over the bridge 10 into the forming-tank 8 in quantities as desired. The molten glass after flowing over said bridge flows and spreads over the surface of the molten mass 9 of metal, alloys, or other fused materials above described contained in the forming-tank 8, the surface of said molten mass being .maintained at a, level enough lower than the top of the bridge- 10 to permit the molten glass to flow freely' by gravitation from the top of said bridge into said forming-tank. A sucient number of the ports 7, leading to the furnacechamber,are located near said bridge in order to supply gas to said chamber at that point and facilitate and intensify the heating of the Aglass next to said bridge and reduceit to such a state of fluidity as to cause it to flow freely over said bridge' as desired. the walls of the heating-chamber 2 gas is supplied as needed to heat and melt the glass to such a state of fluidity in said formingtank as to cause it to flow and spread as desired over the surface of the molten mass in said forming-tank, and particularly between said bridge and the angles 20 in the side walls of said heating-chamber, Near said angles gas is supplied through the ports 31 to heat and liquefy the edges of the sheet of glass between said side walls and prevent its adherence thereto and free it therefrom and enable the sheet to ow or be drawn `forward detached. and free from said side walls, to-

Through the ports 12inl IIO ward the opening 17 in said forming-tank and through the widerportionI of said heatingchamber between said anglesand said ope'ning to and through said opening. 'lhe initial drawingof the sheet of glass from the forming-tank 8 is effected by raking it to and through said opening and carrying the end of' the sheet to and placing said end within the grasp of the revolvingdrawing-out rolls 3 and 4, by which the continuous sheet ofl glass is then drawn from the forming-tan k and heating-chamber and passed to the carrying-rolls 19 and bythcm sent forward through the leer or-annealing-oven and annealed in the usual way. Said drawing-out rolls being lcovered with asbestos and adjustable to any desired pressure upon the sheet of glass passing between them and their speed regulated as herein described, the sheet is protected from injury and may be held byam ple pressure to draw out the sheet at any desired speed. ly the operation of the drawing-out rolls a continuous sheet of glass is drawn from the form? ing tank and retains its form and shape through the cooling of the glass as it passes lo said rolls. The well-known tenacity and viscosity of glass, its less fnsibility than the metlals,all0ys,and materials herein described, and its tendency when fused to spread freely andevenly and cover in uniform thickness any surface over which it`flows adapt it to the process of manufacturing glass herein set forth. The greater fusibility of said metals, alloys, and materials and their g'reaterspecific gravity than glass render it easy and practicable to fortn the sheet on the surface of the molten mass 9 in the forming-tank S, as described, and by varying the temperature in the heating-chamber 2 the liow of the sheet may be accelerated or retarded in proportion to the varying degree of duidity of the glass thus produced, and in this way the proper consistency of the glass may be main tained for forming anddrawing out the sheet by the d rawing-out rolfls3 and 4. The speed of these rolls being regulated by a suitablespeed-regulating mechanism, the drawing of the sheet of glass from the forming tank 8 may be so regulated as to remove the sheet as fast as formed in the tank and the tension on the molten sheet so controlled andv regulated as to draw the sheet in its semiplastic state to any desired thickness.

The molten sheet of glass when formed upon the surface of the, subjacent sheet of the drawing of the sheet of glass from the forming-tank does not affect the molecular structure of the sheet in a way to produce internal strain in the sheet and liability to fracture from that cause, the process of flattening is dispensed with, and the grindingr and polishing process in the manufacture of plate-glass obviated, and the labor cost of production greatly reduced.

The formation ofthe sheet of glass by fiowiug the molten glass over the snbjacent surface of the molten contents ofthe formingtank insures uniform thickness of the sheet and smooth and perfectly plane surfaces throughout, with the brilliant surface polish characteristic of glass when cooled after exposure to intense heat, and the production of sheet or plate glass by the improved method herein described may 'ne accomplished in sheets of any desired width within the extreme internal width of the tank used and in continuous sheets 0f any length.

It is not intended hereby to limit my invention to the particularv apparatus shown by the use of which my' improved method of manufacturing glass is carried out as herein described.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let.

ters Patent, is-- 1. The method of forming glass into sheets, or plates, by melting the glass and flowing Aand lioating it, in its melted state, over the surface of' melted metal, substantially as described. L

21 'lhe method of forming glass into sheets, or plates, consisting in melting theiglass and flowing and floating it over the surface ofmelted metal, substantially as described.

3. The method of forming glass into sheets and plates, consisting in melting'V the glass and liowiug and fioatiug it over the surface of melted metal, and removing the sheet or plate, as formed, from said surface, substantially as described. l

4. The method of forming glass into continuous sheets, by melting the glass and producing a regular l'low o'f the melted glass into a sheet over the surface of melted metal,'and, with correspondingregularity, removing the sheet, as formed, from said surface, substantially as described.

5. The method of forming glass into continuous sheets, consisting in melting the glass, and producing, by the application of heat, a

regular flow of the glass into a sheet over thesurface'of 'melted metal, and, with corresponding regularity, removing the sheet, as formed, from said surface, substantially as described.

, 6. The hereinfdesci'ibed process of manu-v facturing sheet-glass, consisting in melting glass in a suitable tank, and flowing the melted glass from such tank to and pver the sur- 'face of'melted metalcontained in a suitable into a sheet ofruni-form thickness, and then ISD removing the sheet from said surface, as and for the purposes specified.' l

7. The method of manufacturing glass into continuous sheets, by the use of a pair of tanks, consisting in melting the glass in one of said tanks and maintainingin the othera supply of melted metal, and gradually iiowing the melted glass from the tank wherein melted to and over the surface of the melted contentsvof the other t-ank, and flowing and floating the melted glass into asheet upon said surface, and gradually removing said sheet as formed from said surface, substantially as described, and as and for the purposes specified.

8. The method herein described, of ymanufacturing glass into sheet form, consisting in melting the glass in a suitable tank and flowing the melted glass from such tank to and over the surface of the melted contents of a corresponding tank adapted to receive such iow of glass, and support and fioat the same, and permit it to spread into a sheet over said surface; Aand when said sheet is so formed, removing the same, as and for the purposes specified.

The method of manufacturing glass into.k

sheets and plates, consisting in melting the glass in a suitable tank, and flowing the melted glass therefrom to and over the surface of melted metal contained in a suitable receptacle, and vfio-ating the melted glass on said surface until the same forms, by gravitation and the application of heat, into a sheet of uniform thickness, and t-hen removing the sheet from said surface, substantially as described.

10. The method of manufacturing glass in continuous sheets, consisting in melting the glass in asuitable tank,and fiowin g the melted glass gradually to and over the' surface of the melted contents of a corresponding tank, and floating and spreading said melted glass into a sheet over said surface, and removing the sheetgradually, as formed from said surface, substantially as described, and as and for'the purposes specified.

1l. The method herein described of formlng glass into sheets and plates,'consisting in melting the glass in a suitable tank and flowing the melted glass therefrom to and over the melted contents of a corresponding tank,

v said melted contents being of greater specific gravity thanV glass, and floating and' spreading said molten glass, by the combined action of gravitation and heat, into a sheet over and upon the surface of said melted con ten ts, and removing the sheet thus formed, as and for the purposes specified.

12. The method ot' manufacturing sheetglass by one continuous operation, consisting in melting the glass in a suitable tank and owing the melted glass, under continuous heat, from said tank into a corresponding tank and over the surface of melted metal therein contained, 'flowing and floating the glass into asheet over said surface, drawing and forming the sheet of glass, and cooling the sheet in said drawing and forming operation, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

13. The herein-described method of manufacturing annealed sheet-glass by one continuous operation, consisting in melting the glass in a suitable tank, dowing the melted glass therefrom to and over the surface of melted metal contained in a suitable receptacle, oating the melted glass and spreading it into a' sheet on said surface, Aand subjecting it to continuous heat for regulating the softness of the glass, and keeping said metal melted, drawing and forming the sheet ot' glass, cooling the glass in said ldrawing and forming operation, and annealing the sheet of glass, as and for the purposes specified.

14. The method of manufacturing glass into a continuous sheet, consisting in feeding the glass into a suitable melting-tank, melting the glass therein, flowing the melted glass therefrom into a suitable receptacle containing melted metal, floating and spreading the glass in a sheet over the surface ofsaid metal by the simultaneous action of heat and gravitation,forming and drawing the sheetof glass, and cooling the sheet in the forming and drawing operation,substantially as described, and as and for the purposes specified.

15. Themethodof manufacturingannealed Aglass in a continuous sheet, consisting in melting the glass in 'a suitable tank, flowing the glass as melted into a suitable receptacle containing melted metal, floating and spreading the melted glass over the surface of the melted contents of said receptacle by the simultaneous action ot' heat and gravitation, drawing and forming the sheet of glass, cooling the sheet in the forming and drawing operation, and annealingl the sheet of glass substantially as described, and as and for the purposes specified.

16. The method of manufacturing glass in a continuous sheet, which consists in melting purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' WILLIAM E. HEAL.

Witnesses: l

JOHN H. FORREsT, JOHN WILSON.

IIC! 

